Boehner turns down invite to join Biden at papal investiture

3/14/13 11:06 AM EDT

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) has turned down the president's invitation to join Vice President Joe Biden in the U.S. delegation to the papal investiture ceremony in Rome next week, citing a busy schedule next week.

Biden will be leading the U.S. delegation, the White House said Wednesday, but the rest of the traveling party has not yet been announced. Though Boehner won't be part of it, the speaker said he wishes Biden "all the best in his journey, and hope he communicates the prayers and warm regards of every American, especially Catholics, to the first pope from the Americas.”